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THE ROYAL LIBRARY & THE a guide to collections This is a guide to the history of the Royal Library and Royal Archives and their holdings. the royal library serves as the By email ’s official library, and as this For the Royal Library & Royal Bindery guide shows, is a comprehensively [email protected] diverse collection. The Library’s For the Royal Archives collections also include music, coins and [email protected] medals, insignia, and sound recordings. For any other enquiry the royal archives is a private [email protected] archive which offers public access to historical papers for educational By post: purposes and academic study. Royal Library Windsor how to contact the royal library Windsor sl4 inj and royal archives It is easy to find and use the Royal By telephone: Library and Royal Archives. The team +44 (0)1753 868286 is very happy to assist in any requests or enquiries you may have and advice on access is given on page 2.

First published 2016 by Trust House St James’s sw1a 1bq Royal Collection Trust/ © Her Queen Elizabeth II 2016 All works reproduced are Royal Collection Trust/ © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016 unless otherwise stated The image of at sunset (page 3) was taken by John Freeman, 2012 Inside back cover: John Falmstead, Atlas Coelestis, 1729 (rcin 1059272) Designed by Paul Barrett Production Manager Debbie Wayment Printed and bound by Print Group Printed on UPM Fine Offset Contents

Access 2 Where are the Royal Library & Royal Archives? 4 The Royal Library 6 The Royal Archives 10 Important Areas of Interest: Royal Library 12 Early printed books, manuscripts, fine bindings & private presses 12 Literature & music 16 History, antiquities, religion & the law 19 Science & exploration 26 Numismatics, medals, decorations & insignia 32 Important Areas of Interest: Royal Archives 34 Early material 34 Stuart Papers 35 Cumberland Papers 36 Georgian Papers 36 Queen Papers 40 Papers & Royal Household Records 41 Twentieth-Century Papers 43 Related Material in The Royal Collection 43 Protecting the Collections 44 Further Reading 45 Access

Requests for access for groups or individual 4 Equitable Access: The Library and researchers should be sent to the Royal Archives aim to provide access to Library or Royal Archives via email (see a wide range of applicants, and this inside front cover). These will be processed may mean that, from time to time, by the Office and Facilities Manager. repeat applicants may be rejected in favour of those applying for the first Individuals time. The Royal Library and Royal Archives apply four principles when considering Access to the Royal Archives is granted requests for information from, or access solely at the discretion of the Keeper of to, their historic collections: The Queen’s Archives.

1 ‘Information First’: Access to Access for Groups the collections is on the basis of Requests for group visits to the Royal information sought. Library and Royal Archives will be considered on a case by case basis. In 2 Unique Content: Particular some instances, a charge will apply. At consideration will be given to the time of printing the charge is £25 applications where the material or per person. content can be found only in the Royal Library and Royal Archives. Access for Royal Household Staff Where it can be accessed elsewhere Access to the Royal Library and Royal (for example, online or in other Archives can be granted through libraries or archives), external individual contact with a member researchers will be expected to have of Royal Library or Royal Archives consulted those sources first. staff, who are happy to assist with any enquiries you may have. 3 Historical Research: Access is granted for the purpose of ‘historical research’. This term is widely defined, and recognises the huge range of subjects and themes and the myriad ways in which research is conducted. access 3 Where are the Royal Library & Royal Archives?

Windsor Castle St James’s Palace The principal collection of historical A substantial art reference library is held Royal Library material is held at at York House for the curatorial sections Windsor Castle, in a series of three of Royal Collection Trust based there. rooms adapted by William IV in the . This collection consists of the Holyroodhouse majority of the Library’s historic material The Palace of Holyroodhouse contains as well as extensive collections of a small reference collection as well as reference material on History, Biography, historic material relating to Geography and Literature. and Mary, Queen of Scots. This collection is supplemented by items held in store at Windsor, consisting of further works on History The majority of material at Osborne and Literature as well as the Royal House is ’s collection of Library’s collection of scientific texts. literature. At Windsor is a substantial reference collection for Royal Collection Trust Palace of sections. In addition, there is a collection The Royal Library’s collection of of Queen Victoria’s childhood literature, Hansard (a complete set from the and material from the libraries of beginning of the Parliamentary record Queen Charlotte, Queen Mary and to 1900) is at the Department of Victoria, at the Official Record in the House of House. Commons. The Royal Archives are primarily stored in the Round Tower at Windsor Castle. They have been held there since the foundation of the Archives in 1914.

opposite: Albumen print of Queen ’s walking-gallery, Windsor Castle, c.1880, today Room III in the Upper Library, (rcin 2100706) where are the royal library & royal archives? 5

Elsewhere There are also extensive collections There are some books on long-term of items at and loan to the library of the of , as well as at Clarence and the British Golf Museum House and . Books in these in . The set of the Navy List residences are the private property formerly housed on the Royal Yacht of Her Majesty The Queen and stem is now on long-term loan to from the private collections of the Army & Navy Club in London. Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, From time to time other items can be King V, King George VI and found on short-term loan at exhibitions. their consorts. The Royal Library

Historical Background Earlier Royal Libraries were presented The current Royal Library was established to the nation in 1757 by George II by William IV (r. 1830–37) in a series (the Old Royal Library) and in 1823 by of three rooms adapted from the State George IV (the King’s Library). Both Apartments at Windsor Castle. These collections now form a core part of the three rooms are referred to as the Upper . Library and consist of Room I, adapted William IV did not establish the from Queen Catherine of Braganza’s Royal Library from scratch. At his state bedchamber; Room II, formerly the accession, he had access to the private private bedroom of the Tudor monarchs; libraries of George III, and of George IV and Room III, Queen Elizabeth I’s indoor at . Both kings were walking-gallery. avid book collectors and their libraries The current Royal Library is not the contained a wide array of material. first official library of the . William IV brought these libraries together at Windsor and added to them considerably.

George III’s Private Libraries Aside from the King’s Library at Buckingham House (now ), a library to which he allowed scholars access, George III also maintained private libraries at Windsor Castle and Palace where he kept a collection of items of personal interest. These collections were not part of the gift to the nation made by George IV in 1823, and contained the King’s personal copies of works on Agriculture, Botany, Architecture and Science among others. There are some copies in the Library Bookplate of the Royal Library used during which contain annotations in the hand the of William IV. A modified design of George III showing he spent time was also used by Queen Victoria reading as well as collecting these books. the royal library 7

above: Lithograph after Joseph Nash of Queen Elizabeth I’s walking-gallery, Windsor Castle, 1848, today Room III in the Upper Library (rcin 817132)

left: An example of George III’s handwriting in George Wheler, into Greece, 1682 (rcin 1141213)

The Carlton House Library books were bound or re-bound in a During his time as Prince of , uniform to his tastes. George IV also maintained a comprehen- sive collection of books at Carlton House. Nineteenth-Century Additions This collection consisted of works by In 1860, the Royal Library was contemporary authors as well as signifi- rearranged by Prince Albert and the cant historic material. Particular interests then Librarian, Bernard Woodward. This of the King included Military History, project saw the Library organised by Classical Literature, , subject area. This arrangement remains History and Topography. Many of these in place to the present day. 8 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

The reign of Queen Victoria does so today. The Library’s collection saw additions to the Library. has more than quadrupled in size since Subsequent Librarians oversaw its reorganisation in 1860, and currently the acquisition of new books from contains over 200,000 items. throughout the British as well The Library has expanded to include as the acquisition of historical material not only material collected by members with Royal provenance or of particular of the Royal , but its collection historic interest. also reflects the work of the Royal The nineteenth century also saw the Household, Royal Collection Trust and development of large book collections the particular interests of successive at Sandringham House, Balmoral Castle Librarians. For example, during his and Osborne House (see pages 4 and 5). tenure as the Librarian between 1905 and 1926, John Fortescue Modern Additions considerably expanded the Military The Royal Library continued to collect History section. throughout the twentieth century and Public Access Online catalogues Some 80,000 items from the Library are free to search on www.royalcollection. org.uk/collection and a substantial part of the incunabula collection is included in the Incunabula Short Title Catalogue, www.bl.uk/catalogues/istc.

Other listings A further 124,000 reference items are listed on the Royal Collection’s internal databases and these can be searched by Royal Library or Royal Collection Trust staff.

Publications A bibliography of the Royal Library and some of its collections can be found at Henry VIII’s copy of one of the first the end of this booklet (see pages 45–7). books dedicated to gardening, Petrus de Crescentiis’ Ruralia Commoda (c.1490–95, rcin 1057436), recently shown in Painting Paradise: The Art of the Garden, opposite: Gelatin silver print photograph of The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, the Muniment Room in the Round Tower, 2015 Windsor Castle, in 1929 (rcin 2351503) section heading 9 The Royal Archives

The Royal Archives was founded in journals of Queen Victoria available 1914 and is a private archive which online. This service is freely available offers public access to historical papers in the via for educational purposes and academic www.queenvictoriasjournals.org.uk, study, while protecting the personal and provides an excellent insight into private papers of The Queen and the life and thoughts of the Queen members of the . Access during a period of tremendous change. to the Archives is the responsibility of Current digitisation projects: Projects the Keeper of The Queen’s Archives to digitise and publish the Stuart and this authority is exercised on a Papers, the Cumberland Papers and day-to-day basis by the Librarian as the Georgian Papers have begun. the Assistant Keeper of The Queen’s These papers are of great importance Archives. to historians of the long eighteenth The archival collection reflects the century (1688–1830). Any enquiries changing world and the monarchy’s regarding the project to digitise the relationship to it, and contains, among Georgian Papers should be directed to its significant collection, the papers [email protected]. of the last Stuarts in exile, George III, George IV, and those of later monarchs Access via other libraries and archives and members of the Royal Family, Royal Archives material has also been including the correspondence and made available via microfilm at the journals of Queen Victoria. British Library, The National Archives, Public Access and some associated university and academic libraries. This includes the Online catalogues Stuart Papers, the Cumberland Papers, Household staff lists: The Royal Archives the Papers, the has made Royal Household staff lists Papers, Victorian Papers regarding from the seventeenth century to 1924 changes of government and European available on the genealogical website Foreign Affairs, and reports, Find my Past (www.findmypast.co.uk). 1837–1916. Researchers are advised to Queen Victoria’s Journals: In 2012, consult either the British Library or The the Royal Archives, in association National Archives, as appropriate, for with the , made the access to these papers listed above. The royal archives 11

Published material ✦✦ The Letters of Queen Victoria, which In 2014, the Royal Archives produced a were published in nine volumes book, Treasures from the Royal Archives, between 1908 and 1932. in commemoration of its centenary. In ✦✦ The correspondence of George III addition to this book, there are many and George IV. published editions of correspondence Full details are in further reading on held by the Royal Archives, some page 45. principal examples include: Important Areas of Interest: Royal Library

The Royal Library’s collection holds comes from the Latin meaning cradle many objects of particular interest. Some or swaddling clothes). While a press of these were initially in the collections had been used for printing at an earlier of George III and George IV, while date, the great innovation was printing others were acquired at a later date. with movable metal type, which was developed by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1450s. The term ‘incunabula’ Early Printed Books, refers to books printed during this early Manuscripts, Fine Bindings period, up to 1501. The development & Private Presses of mechanical printing allowed books to become much more readily available, Incunabula making them highly significant for, The Royal Library holds over 250 and central to, the technological incunabula, so-called because they date and intellectual achievements of the from the cradle of printing (the term European Renaissance. In the Library,

The Mainz Psalter, 1457 (rcin 1071478) important areas of interest: royal library 13

The Sobieski Hours, c.1420 (rcin 1142248), illuminated by the Bedford Master

they were primarily collected by include Byron’s autograph George III, George IV and William IV manuscript of The Two Foscari with later additions by Queen Victoria, (1821, rcin 1047665) and the sixteen- King Edward VII and King . volume manuscript diary, as well as One of the highlights of this section some of the papers, of the artist Joseph is the Mainz Psalter (1457, rcin Farington (rcins 1047051–65, 1071478), presented to George III in rcin 1047675), which is an invaluable 1800. It is the second printed book ever guide to British society between published, and the first with rubricated 1792 and 1821. (red as well as ) printing. The However, perhaps most important Royal Library’s copy is one of only ten among the Royal Library’s collection copies in existence, and as such, it is of manuscripts are two Books of rarer than the Gutenberg Bible. Hours, Cardinal York’s Hours (c.1500, rcin 1005087) and the Sobieski Hours Western Manuscripts (c.1420, rcin 1142248), both The important collection of Western presented following the death of Henry Manuscripts held by the Royal Library Benedict Stuart, Cardinal York, in 1807. 14 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections important areas of interest: royal library 15

South Asian, Islamic & Ethiopic Manuscripts Acquired in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this is a significant collection of Indian, Persian and Ethiopic manuscripts, written in most of the major scripts of South Asia and Ethiopia. Included in this collection is The Padshahnama (1630–57, rcin 1005025), one of the finest Mughal manuscripts ever produced, which tells the history The Restoration Bible, 1660 (rcin 1142247) of the reign of Shah Jahan (r. 1628–58) and bears exquisite likenesses of thought to have a Royal provenance, members of his court. many of which were reacquired in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Fine Bindings The Royal Library holds an exceptional Private Presses collection of finely bound books in a Private Press books, printed in the wide variety of styles and materials. The late-nineteenth and early-twentieth collection is particularly rich in bindings centuries in emulation of early printing,

Eric Gill, The Four Gospels, 1931 (rcin 1052088)

opposite: Folio 43b, Jahangir receives Prince Kurram (the future Shah Jahan) on return from the Mewar Campaign, The Padshahnama, 1656–7 (rcin 1005025) 16 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

form a notable collection in the Royal the King during his imprisonment at Library. Examples include William Castle. After Charles I’s Morris’s translation of Beowulf (1895, death, the copy passed through several rcin 1050448) and ’s The Four hands before ending up in the library of Gospels (1931, rcin 1052088). the great Shakespearean commentator, George Steevens (1736–1800), at whose sale in 1800 it was purchased by Literature & music George III. Significant sections of the English Literature collection come from English Literature George IV’s library at Carlton House Highlights of the Royal Library’s and from the collections of extensive collection of English Queen Victoria. Literature include the copy of by (3 vols, 1816, rcins Languages, Linguistics & 1083626, 1080108–9) which was World Literature presented by the author to the Prince The Library contains a very wide array of , later George IV, and copies of ancient, modern and invented languages. the First, Second, and Third Folios of Collecting habits of successive monarchs, the Complete Works of Shakespeare. and official gifts received, have resulted The Second Folio (1632, rcin in the Royal Library gaining an excellent 1080415) is perhaps most important as collection of international literature. In it bears annotations by Charles I, and addition to works in French, German, is likely to have been the copy read by Italian and Spanish, there are many volumes in Russian, Serbian and Hungarian as well as numerous Indian, Asian and African texts. A lot of this material was gathered by Prince Albert, and includes numerous translations of famous nineteenth- century works. Some of the most important include a manuscript Persian translation of Queen Victoria’s More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the Highlands from 1862 to 1882 (1884–5, rcin 1005029) and the first German edition of ’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1869, rcin 1082586), presented by the author Jane Austen’s Emma, London, 1816, to Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s presented to George IV when youngest child. Among the languages (rcins 1083626, 1080108–9) covered by the Library are Inuktitut, important areas of interest: royal library 17

Queen Victoria, More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the Highlands from 1862 to 1882, 1884–5 (Persian, rcin 1005029) 18 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

Gaelic, Welsh, Manx, Manchu, Tibetan, rcin 1102861) and whisky (Drams, Malay, Mohawk, Swahili and Lips-kith 2014, rcin 1102980). An exhibition, (rcin 1074322), a language created in Poetry for the Palace, was held in 1919, which was intended to serve as a The Queen’s Gallery at the Palace of lingua franca for . Holyroodhouse in 2014 to commemorate the relationship between the Monarchy Poetry and Poets Laureate throughout history. Patronage of poetry has always been important to the British monarchy, Classical Literature and as a consequence the Library The basis of the Royal Library’s holds material presented by every Poet collection of Classical Literature came Laureate since from George III’s libraries at Windsor (1770–1850), including unique and Kew. This was later supplemented manuscripts commissioned by, or for, with additions of significant material the Royal Family. Among the most during the of George IV, important recent acquisitions to this Queen Victoria and King George V. collection are works by the current Poet Highlights include an Italian edition Laureate, , celebrating of Horace, once owned by Leopold II, the 60th Anniversary of The Queen’s Holy Roman (r. 1790–92) (The , 2013, while Grand of Tuscany (2 vols,

Carol Ann Duffy, Drams, 2014 (rcin 1102980) Poetry: © Carol Ann Duffy; artwork and photograph: Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016 important areas of interest: royal library 19

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots, 1767 (rcin 1140995)

1778, rcins 1084038–9), the first was 11 years old (1767, rcin 1140995) English edition of Thucydides, purchased by Prince Albert in 1841; published in 1550 (rcin 1086467), and a composition arranged by Felix and the first printed Greek edition of Mendelssohn for Queen Victoria and Homer, published in 1488 (2 vols, Prince Albert to play as a piano duet rcins 1057927–8). (1847, rcin 1047149).

Music & Sound Recordings In 1957 the Royal Music Library was History, antiquities, given to the nation by The Queen and Religion & the Law now forms part of the Music collections at the British Library, where it may History be consulted. However, there are still The Royal Library’s collection of works some significant pieces of music in the on history is particularly strong on Library’s collection as well as pianola British History, but there is also a wealth rolls and sound recordings. of material relating to other countries. The Library contains a manuscript Among this collection is a volume of composition by Mozart, written when he autograph letters to John Jay from the 20 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

other Founding Fathers of the United States (rcin 1047551), presented to the future King Edward VII while he was travelling in Virginia in 1860.

Ancient History & Antiquities The Ancient History & Antiquities section of the Royal Library was primarily acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It contains some of the most important works of nineteenth- century archaeology including Sir ’s two-volume study, published in 1849 and 1853, of the remains of Nineveh and Nimrud in northern Iraq (rcins 1071068–9), and Autograph letter from to Viscount Kingsborough’s monumental John Jay, dated 11 April 1783 (rcin 1047551) nine-volume work, the Antiquities of

The third hour of the Amduat, Third Century bc (rcin 1145264) important areas of interest: royal library 21

Book of Ballymote, c.1837–40 (rcin 1047555)

Mexico (1831–48, rcins 1070171–9). British & Irish History There are also earlier works retained The Royal Library’s collection of works by George IV in 1823, such as the on British History comprehensively presentation copy of Robert Adam’s covers the history of , 1764 survey of the palace of Diocletian , the and the at Split (rcin 1071086). . Much of this material came The Royal Library also holds eight from the libraries of George III and pieces of papyrus dating from the George IV, with later additions made by third century bc (rcins 1145259–66) Queen Victoria. containing the first eight hours of the Among this collection is an Amduat, an Egyptian funerary text that extra-illustrated copy of the Earl of describes the journey of regeneration of Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion and god Re through the 12 hours of Civil Wars in (3 vols, 1707, the night from sunset to sunrise. rcins 1027884–6) which was purchased by George III and a manuscript copy of the Book of Ballymote, started at the suggestion of George IV following his 22 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

Joseph Bouchette, Map of the Provinces of Lower and Upper , 1831 (rcin 1142933)

visit to Ireland in 1821, and presented for the Canadian census of the same to the Royal Library early in the reign year (rcins 1141457–8, 1141463–4 and of Queen Victoria (c.1837–40, rcin 1142933). 1047555). Military History History Expanded in the early-twentieth century Due to the sovereign’s role as the on the initiative of the Librarian, , the military historian Sir John Fortescue, Royal Library contains material on the Royal Library contains an extensive the history of the Commonwealth and collection of material on Military Commonwealth nations. History. Historic texts in this section Some of the most significant items were principally collected by George IV held in this collection include the first and include Marmaduke Stalkartt’s history of (1647, rcin 1029487), Naval Architecture (1781, rcin 1059264), a manuscript account of the island of a beautifully bound volume purchased Tobago presented to George IV in 1813 by the future King at the age of 19, and (rcin 1047379), and a lavish two- Drawings of the Colours and Standards volume survey of Canada, presented to of the tempore James II William IV in 1831. The five large maps (c.1685–9, rcin 1083409) a manuscript which accompanied this work were so acquired in 1820. detailed that copies of them were used important areas of interest: royal library 23

Seals & Deeds A collection of wax seal impressions, some of which have deeds and legal documents attached, is housed in the Royal Library. The earliest of these date from the reign of Edward I (r. 1272– 1307) and primarily relate to purchases made on the land which now forms part of the Sandringham Estate in .

John Whittaker, Ceremonial of the Coronation of King George IV, 1823 (rcin 1005090)

printed in gold, and the of service used and signed by The Queen at her Coronation in 1953 (rcin 1006834).

Heraldry & Genealogy The Royal Library holds a substantial collection of books relating to Heraldry and the genealogies of noble houses of Document with the Great Seal of Edward III, Britain and . Notable among 1341 (rcin 71317) these are heraldic manuscripts, one of which, The Wriothesley Garter Book (rcin 1047414) created around Royal History & 1535, contains one of the earliest Orders of service for the Coronations contemporary depictions of Henry VIII of several sovereigns, as well as seated in Parliament. commemorative volumes published in honour of the occasion, have been Religion & Theology collected. Important examples include In part owing to their role as Head of the John Whittaker’s Ceremonial of the , reigning monarchs Coronation of King George IV (1823, have acquired many important works of rcin 1005090), an extravagant volume Religious Literature, and the collection 24 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections important areas of interest: royal library 25 opposite: Henry VIII seated in Parliament, The Wriothesley Garter Book, c.1535 (rcin 1047414) in the Royal Library reflects this. Among the most significant items held in the Library is a copy of Assertio Septem Sacramentorum, Henry VIII’s treatise against the teachings of Martin Luther, which earned him the title Fidei Defensor () from Pope Leo X. The Library’s copy is signed by the King himself (1521, rcin 1006836). The Library also holds a Catholic missal used by James II, complete with an added manuscript prayer for the Royal Family. It was the last such book to be used by an English sovereign (1688, rcin 1081283).

Sacred Texts Amongst the significant collection of Henry VIII (with his signature), Assertio sacred texts from around the world are Septem Sacramentorum, 1521 a fifteenth-century copy of the Qur’an, (rcin 1006836)

The Qur’an (15th century, rcin 1005000) 26 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

acquired by Queen Victoria in 1898 Articles of Union (rcin 1142244) – the (rcin 1005000), a Torah scroll, one other is held at the National Archives of 1,564 scrolls saved from desecrated of Scotland in – and the Synagogues in Bohemia, Moravia and Jackson collection of fragments, a Silesia during World War II (1830, miscellaneous group containing extracts rcin 1123995), which is on permanent of canon and law taken from loan from the Czech Scrolls Memorial larger documents. Committee, and a copy of the Gita Govinda, presented to King Edward VII in 1875 (c.1790, rcin 1005114). Science & Exploration

Law Science & Agriculture In addition to the set of Hansard at the Primarily consisting of material gathered (see page 4), by George III for his private libraries at the Royal Library holds a number of Windsor and Kew, the Royal Library standard reference works and historic contains an interesting range of texts on the development of English, material on science and agricultural Scottish, and other laws. Among the matters. legal manuscripts in the Library is one Some of these texts contain of the two Scottish copies of the 1706 annotations by the King himself, such as

The Articles of Union between Scotland and England, 1706 (rcin 1142244) important areas of interest: royal library 27

The Improved Culture of Three Principal Grasses…, 1775 (rcin 1057372)

The Improved Culture of Three Principal volumes of ’s Grasses…, a 1775 work exploring the The Birds of America (1827–35, rcins benefits of different grass species in 1122502–5) which contain magnificent agriculture (rcin 1057372). life-size hand-coloured plates, as well as 41 volumes of John Gould’s magnificent Natural History, Botany work on the birds of the world (1837–83, & Horticulture rcins 1055254–9, 1071014–15, Several monarchs have had a 1122342–58, 1122363, 1122367–81). considerable interest in the sciences, and this is reflected in the Royal Library’s Travel & Exploration collection of works on Natural History, The Royal Family is exceptionally well Botany and Horticulture. While some travelled. The Royal Library contains of these volumes were collected by numerous works on national and George III, further additions, both of international travel, exploration and historic and contemporary material, discovery. There is a small collection of were made during the reign of these at Windsor, with a larger selection Queen Victoria and continue today. forming part of King Edward VII’s library Most notable among this collection at Sandringham House. Both collections are the four double-elephant folio range from railway guide books to 28 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

John Gould, A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans, 1834–55 (rcin 1122381) important areas of interest: royal library 29

John James Audubon, The Birds of America, vol. iii, 1834–5 (rcin 1122504) 30 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

Aurora Australis, 1908–9, showing boards made from packing cases of mock- soup (rcin 1121970)

accounts of scientific and exploratory topography and atlases dating from the voyages. late-sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth Among the most important of century. these is the “mock-turtle soup” copy One of the most notable of these is of Aurora Australis (1908–9, Christopher Saxton’s Atlas of England rcin 1121970), the first book ever and Wales (1579, rcin 1046848), the printed in . It was probably first complete atlas of England and presented to King Edward VII in 1909 Wales which bears a lavish hand- by . coloured title page depicting Elizabeth I enthroned. Geography & Topography Complementing the section on travel, the Royal Library contains many topographical and geographical works opposite: Christopher Saxton, Atlas of with a particular emphasis on British England and Wales, 1579 (rcin 1046848) section heading 31 32 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

Numismatics, Medals, in the Royal Household in 1980. These Decorations & Insignia collections consist of Viking, Anglo- Saxon and medieval coins. Numismatics & Commemorative The coins and medals collection Medals also holds a unique gold example of a The collecting of coins and their study portrait medallion of Elizabeth I has long been central to the formation of (c.1616, rcin 443072), engraved during historic libraries, and as such, the Royal the reign of James I by Simon van de Library holds a significant collection Passe. of coins, banknotes and medals. The present collection was first accumulated Insignia by Queen Mary, with further additions of The Royal Library is responsible for material occurring up to and throughout the safekeeping of insignia of Orders of the present reign. Knighthood acquired by, and presented Some of the most significant areas to, various monarchs from George III to of the coin collection are items from Her Majesty The Queen. The Head of the Tutbury, Cuerdale and Swinton Collections Information Management hoards, acquired by Queen Victoria in is responsible for the cataloguing and her capacity as and continued study of the Library’s insignia transferred to the Library from elsewhere collection.

An example of one of the opposite: Lesser George of coins from the Cuerdale George III, c.1750. Gold, Hoard, silver diamond, sapphire, from the reign of ruby, amethyst Cnut, c.898–915 (rcin 441145) (rcin 443009) section heading 33 Important Areas of Interest: Royal Archives

Early material most notably Queen Mary. While this is not an area of particular strength, The Royal Archives contains a small significant material includes a list of collection of medieval and Tudor jewels from the wardrobe of Edward I. material. This is the result of later The document, written in Norman collecting habits of the Royal Family, French and dated September 1297,

List of jewels from the wardrobe of Edward I. Presented to Walter de Moreslede, September 1297 (RA EB/EB/50) important areas of interest: royal archives 35 is the oldest document in the Royal Stuart papers Archives. Among the Tudor material is a household account book of the future The Stuart Papers were acquired Elizabeth I while resident at Hatfield by George IV when Prince Regent House between 1551 and 1552. following the death of , Cardinal York, and were

Letter from Prince Charles Edward Stuart to the Scottish Chiefs, justifying his reasons for leaving Scotland after the Battle of Culloden, 28 April 1746 (RA SP/ MAIN/273/117) 36 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

originally kept in the Prince’s Library Georgian Papers at Carlton House. Comprising 541 bound volumes with a further eleven George III Papers (Including boxes of material, the Stuart Papers George I & George II) are an invaluable collection detailing George III’s papers form the earliest the fortunes of the last Stuarts after the surviving collection of a reigning exile of James II in 1688. The majority ’s papers stored in the Royal of these papers concern the period 1713 Archives. They were discovered at to 1770, and provide an insight into Apsley House, the London residence of Jacobite attempts to regain the throne, the of Wellington, along with the while later papers concern Cardinal papers of George IV, and were deposited York’s relations with the Vatican until in the Royal Archives in 1912. his death in 1807. A project is underway George III was a diligent man to digitise these records to make them who meticulously made copies of his available to a wider audience online. correspondence until his first illness in 1788. He thereafter continued to file letters until the deterioration of his Cumberland Papers eyesight necessitated the appointment of a Private Secretary in 1805. The papers Deposited in the Royal Archives at its provide a remarkable insight into the life foundation, the Cumberland Papers and interests of the King from 1753 until comprise the military records of William the onset of his final illness in 1810. Augustus, from his The collection comprises three command during the 1745–6 Jacobite main series: his official correspondence Rebellion to 1757. These papers are dating from 1753 to 1810, his private sometimes referred to in conjunction papers from 1755 to 1810, and his with the Stuart Papers due to the wealth correspondence with his siblings and of information they provide regarding children. The Royal Archives also the Duke’s campaign against the Jacobite contains many academic essays written claimants. by the King, and includes examples of The Cumberland Papers also contain his correspondence with notable cultural records of the Duke’s tenure as Ranger figures of the eighteenth century, such of the Great Park at Windsor until as and Sir Joseph his death in 1765. As with the Stuart Banks, as well as material highlighting Papers, a project is underway to digitise the King’s interest in the development and make some of these records further of the from its accessible. foundation in 1768. The papers of George III also include small numbers of papers of his siblings, as well as some of the papers of his father, Frederick, , important areas of interest: royal archives 37

Memorandum by George III on the forthcoming , [1769] (RA GEO/ MAIN/895)

his grandfather, George II and great- three main series: his official papers grandfather, George I. dating from 1811 to 1830, his papers as Prince of Wales, and his correspondence George IV Papers with other members of the Royal Much of the private correspondence of Family. This correspondence provides George IV was destroyed following his an interesting insight into the lives and death in 1830. Fortunately, the King’s personalities of the children of George III. chief executor, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Perhaps the most informative of Duke of Wellington, kept the remaining George IV’s papers are his account papers under his care. These were books and bills. These detail his deposited in the Royal Archives following acquisitions of decorative arts, books their rediscovery at Apsley House. and paintings to furnish and decorate his Like the papers of George III, various residences during his time as George IV’s records are organised into Prince of Wales, Prince Regent, and King. 38 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

Bill for various items purchased by the Prince Regent from jewellers and goldsmiths, Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, 1813 (RA GEO/MAIN/25856) important areas of interest: royal archives 39

Other papers relating to George IV one volume of accounts, a in the Royal Archives include small account book from 1793 and a some material relating to the King’s substantial body of correspondence from relationship with Mrs FitzHerbert, 1779 to 1834, conducted largely with including their marriage certificate, George IV, Whitehead and presented to King Edward VII in 1905. others. There is also additional material ‘Additional’ & ‘Boxes’ Papers relating to William IV in the Royal Among the papers of George III Archives. This includes correspondence and George IV are some which were between the King and Charles Grey, 2nd acquired at different times and therefore while the latter was serving in are not included in the main series. political office, including during his time There are over 90 such groups of papers, as Prime Minister between 1830 and and they fall into three broad categories: 1834 (see also Melbourne and Howick the papers relating to members of the Papers, below); the Munster papers Royal Family, papers of some individuals (the papers of George FitzClarence, close to the Royal Family and notable 1st Earl of Munster, illegitimate son of figures of the period (such as Lady William IV and ) and a Charlotte Finch, Nathaniel Kent and letter book of correspondence with his Joseph Farington), and miscellaneous father, George III, other members of papers including inventories and the Royal Family, and various courtiers. account books. Further papers include a substantial Further material, primarily including series of the correspondence of Dorothea Privy Purse papers and bills and a Jordan and the Hoste papers, which substantial body of papers relating to the contain some correspondence of the separation and divorce of George IV and King during his naval career. Queen Caroline are also found among these series. Melbourne & Howick Papers The Melbourne Papers and the Howick William IV Papers, both of which were presented William IV’s official papers were to The Queen, comprise the ministerial consciously destroyed following his correspondence of Lord Melbourne death in 1837, much against the (Prime Minister 1835–41) and Charles wishes of Queen Victoria. However, Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (Prime Minister the Royal Archives holds a surprising 1830–34). These papers contain much number of papers relating to the King. information on the passage of significant The main series of papers comprises legislation such as the Great Reform a small group of personal papers and Act of 1832, as well as documenting the military documents, 1830–33, papers rapid social changes and the political relating to the Office of Robes during climate of the 1830s. his reign (including financial accounts), 40 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

Queen Victoria Papers Royal Archives. Organised by her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, until Queen Victoria’s extensive collection 1840, and then by Prince Albert until of official and private correspondence his death in 1861, Queen Victoria’s as well as her journal, which, although papers were meticulously sorted. Her heavily edited by her daughter, official papers, concerning domestic, , still amounts to foreign and imperial affairs, cover a 141 volumes, was one of the main period of remarkable change. Her causes for the establishment of the extensive private correspondence,

Princess Victoria’s paper dolls, c. 1830 (RA VIC/MAIN/Z/124) important areas of interest: royal archives 41 primarily with her uncle, Leopold I, Cambridge Papers King of the Belgians, and her eldest Among the collections of other daughter, Victoria, members of the Royal Family in the (later Empress Frederick), and also Archives are the military papers of with other relatives, ministers and George, (1819– foreign royals, show the Queen’s close 1904), uncle of Queen Mary, who served relationship with her family, friends as -in-Chief of the Army and associates. from 1856 to 1895. These papers are of immense use to military historians of the nineteenth century, and are available on microfilm at the British Library and elsewhere (see page 10).

Wardrobe Papers & Royal Household Records As the Royal Archives were not established until the twentieth century, most records for the Royal Household are stored at The National Archives in Kew. However, records from 1901 onwards, as well as some material from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, are held by the Royal Archives. Among the historic papers of the Royal Household stored in the Archives are: ✦✦ The papers of the Privy Purse Office from the Victorian period to the present. ✦✦ Some nineteenth century records of the ’s Office relating to Windsor Castle. ✦✦ Some records of the ’s (now ’s) Department from the Regency to present. ✦✦ Records of the from the onwards. 42 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

King George VI’s speech, with alterations in his own hand, given at a dinner party for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers on 13 October 1948 (RA PS/PSO/GVI/PS/MAIN/09196) important areas of interest: royal archives 43

In 1914, the twentieth-Century Papers presented King George V with the Great Wardrobe papers kept by his ancestors, The official papers of Kings the Dukes of Montagu. This collection Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII of warrants, bills and receipts relates to and George VI are held by the Royal the purchase of furniture, furnishings, Archives. These consist primarily of liveries and ceremonial robes covering official correspondence, and provide the period 1660 to 1749. It is worth information on foreign and domestic noting that The National Archives affairs as well as royal visits, functions also holds a comprehensive set of Great and patronages which occurred during Wardrobe records covering the period the first half of the twentieth century. 1516–1920 (TNA LC 5).

Private Royal Estates RELATED MATERIAL IN The Royal Archives also holds material THE ROYAL COLLECTION relating to the private estates of the Royal Family. This includes records of Some collections once held by the Royal the Balmoral and Sandringham Estates Library or the Royal Archives now from the nineteenth century onwards, come under the responsibility of other Privy Purse records regarding the sections within Royal Collection Trust. Osborne Estate on the , Examples include the military maps of until its presentation to the nation by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, King Edward VII, and records relating formerly part of the Royal Library, to the management of the estate at and now stored in the Print Room at Windsor from the nineteenth century Windsor Castle, and the internationally onwards. significant Photograph Collection, once part of the Royal Archives and now a separate section in its own right. Protecting the Collections

The Royal Library and Royal Archives in situ as well as in their dedicated are fortunate to have a bindery and conservation studios. paper conservation studio on-site. The Royal Bindery is also responsible The Royal Bindery is responsible for for the binding of books for use the preservation, conservation and elsewhere in the Royal Household, restoration of material held by the conservation prior to books and archives Royal Library and Royal Archives going out to exhibitions, and for the and undertakes many tasks to keep production of gifts presented during the collections in the best condition State Visits. possible. This work is carried out

Recently, the Royal Bindery remounted and re-bound the four volume set of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America. This project was published in 2014 in Bookbinder: the Journal of the Society of Bookbinders (see further reading for full details) Further Reading

History of the Royal Library & Bosbach, John R. Davis and Karina Royal Archives Urbach (eds.), Common Heritage. A Royal Miscellany from the Royal Library, Documents and Sources relating Windsor Castle (London: Royal to German-British Relations in the Collection, 1990). Archives and Collections of Windsor Bell, Allan, ‘Literary Fanfare’, Country and , vol. i: the Archives Life (15 March 1990), pp. 58–9. (Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2015), de Bellaigue, Sheila, ‘The Royal pp. 342–5. Archives: Windsor Castle’, Archives Mackworth-Young, Robin, ‘The Royal et Bibliothèques de Belgique, vol. lxii, Archives, Windsor Castle’, Archives, no. 3–4 (1991). vol. xiii, no. 59 (Spring 1978). Birrell, Thomas A., English Monarchs Marsden, Jonathan (ed.), Victoria & and their Books: From Henry VII to Albert: Art & Love (London: Royal Charles II: The Panizzi Lectures, 1986 Collection Trust, 2010). (London, 1987). Millar, Delia, ‘Family Connections’, Brooke, John, ‘The Library of King Country Life (8 March 1990), George III’, Yale University Library pp. 108–11. Gazette, vol. 52, no. 1 (July 1977). Patterson, Stephen, ‘The Royal Library Clark, Pamela et al., Treasures from at Windsor Castle’, El Libro Antigua the Royal Archives (London: Royal Espanol III: El libro en Palacio y otros Collection Trust, 2013). estudios bibliograficos (Salamanca, Everett, Oliver, ‘The Royal Library, 1996), pp. 201–23. Windsor Castle’, Archives et Roberts, Jane (ed.), Royal Treasures: A Bibliothèques de Belgique, vol. lxiii, Celebration (London: no. 1–4 (1992). Royal Collection Trust, 2002), Everett, Oliver, ‘The Royal Library at pp. 356–87. Windsor Castle as Developed by Roberts, Jane (ed.), George III & Queen Prince Albert and B.B. Woodward’, Charlotte. Patronage, Collecting The Library, 7th ser., vol. iii, no. 1 and Court Taste (London: Royal (2002), pp. 58–88. Collection Trust, 2002), pp. 220–43. Fry, Marysa, Through the Keyhole of the Roberts, Jane, ‘Edward Harding and Royal Library (unpublished, 1992). Queen Charlotte’, in Dethloff, Gehringer, Horst and Walton, Oliver, Tessa Murdoch and Kim Sloan (eds.), ‘Staatsarchiv Coburg’, in Franz Burning Bright: Essays in Honour of 46 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

David Bindman (London: UCL Press, (eds.), Prince Albert Studies, vol. xxv 2015). (Munich, 2007), pp. 49–59. Ryan, David and Clark, Pamela, ‘Divided Estate, Common Heritage: Royal German records at the Publications Relating to Specific Royal Archives, Windsor’, in Royal Library & Royal Archives Windsor-Coburg: Divided Estate- Material Common Heritage, the Collections of a , F. Bosbach and J.R. Davis Aspinall, Arthur (ed.), The Letters of (eds.), Prince Albert Studies, vol. xxv King George IV, 1812–1830, 3 vols (Munich, 2007), pp. 21–30. (Cambridge: University Press, 1938). Urquhart Irvine, Oliver and Walton, Aspinall, Arthur (ed.), The Later Oliver, ‘The Royal Library and the Correspondence of George III, 5 vols private libraries of Queen Victoria (Cambridge: University Press, and Prince Albert’, in Franz Bosbach, 1962–70). John R. Davis and Karina Urbach Benson, Arthur Christopher and Brett, (eds.), Common Heritage. Documents Reginald, Viscount , The Letters and Sources relating to German-British of Queen Victoria: a Selection from Her Relations in the Archives and Collections Majesty’s Correspondence and Journal of Windsor and Coburg, vol. ii: the between the Years 1837 and 1861, Photograph and Library Collections 3 vols (London: John Murray, 1908). (Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, to be Buckle, George Earle (ed.), The Letters published June 2016). of Queen Victoria: a Selection from Her Walton, Oliver, ‘The Royal Archives at Majesty’s Correspondence and Journal Windsor Castle’, in Franz Bosbach, between the Years 1862 and 1885, John R. Davis and Karina Urbach 3 vols (London: John Murray, 1928). (eds.), Common Heritage. Documents Buckle, George Earle (ed.), The Letters and Sources relating to German- of Queen Victoria: a Selection from British Relations in the Archives and Her Majesty’s Correspondence and Collections of Windsor and Coburg, Journal between the Years 1886 and vol. i: the Archives (Berlin: Duncker 1901, 3 vols (London: John Murray, & Humblot, 2015), pp. 17–20. 1932). Watkin, David, The Royal Interiors Cleveland , Milo and Koch, Ebba, of Regency England (London & King of the World. The Padshahnama; Melbourne: JM Dent & Sons, 1984). An Imperial Mughal Manuscript from Wright, Bridget and Owens, , the Royal Library, Windsor Castle ‘Such wonderful method: Prince (London: Azimuth, 1997). Albert and the Royal Library’, in Doyle, Kathleen and McKendrick, Scot Windsor-Coburg: Divided Estate- (eds.), 1000 Years of Royal Books and Common Heritage, the Collections of Manuscripts (London: British Library, a Dynasty, F. Bosbach and J.R. Davis 2013). further reading 47

Firebrace, C.W., Honest Harry: Being Räder, Philippa, ‘A Royal Restoration: the Biography of Sir Henry Firebrace, rebinding Audubon’s The Birds of (1619–1691) (London: John America’, Bookbinder, vol. 28 (2014), Murray, 1932). pp. 29–42. Fortescue, Sir John (ed.), The Ratcliffe, Stephen, Alberto Sangorski Correspondence of King George the Bibliography with Illustrations (self- Third from 1760 to December 1783, published, 2015). 6 vols (London: Macmillan & Co., Robinson, B.W. and Sims, Eleanor, 1927–8). The Windsor Shahnama of 1648; Garlick, Kenneth and Macintyre, Angus with contributions by Manijeh Bayani (eds.), The Diary of Joseph Farington, (London: Roxburghe Club, 2007). 17 vols (New Haven & London: Yale Ullendorff, Edward, ‘The Ethiopic University Press, 1978–98). Manuscripts in the Royal Library, Hedley, Olwen, Additional Bookbindings Windsor Castle’, Rassegna di Studi in the Royal Library (unpublished, Etiopici, vol. xii (1953). c.1960). Spencer, Eleanor, The Sobieski Hours: Holmes, Richard Rivington et al., A manuscript in the Royal Library at Specimens of Royal Fine and Historical Windsor Castle (London: Roxburghe Bookbinding Selected from the Royal Club, 1977). Library, Windsor Castle (London: Stratford, Jenny, Catalogue of the Jackson Griggs, 1893). Collection of Manuscript Fragments Keiding, Johanne, ‘Postkort fra in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle Windsor’, Nordisk Konservator (London: Academic Press, 1981). Forbund Danmark, no. 93 (2015), Stratford, Jenny, ‘Manuscript fragments pp. 48–9. at Windsor Castle and the Entente McKno Bladon, F. (ed.), The Diaries Cordiale’, in Linda L. Brownrigg and of The Hon. Robert Fulke Margaret M. Smith (eds.), Interpreting Greville, to His Majesty King and Collecting Fragments of Medieval George III (London: John Lane, 1930). Books (London: Red Gull Press, Namier, Sir Lewis, Additions and 2000), pp. 114–35. Corrections to Sir John Fortescue’s Stratford, Jenny, The Sobieski Hours, A Edition of the Correspondence of Most Beautiful Manuscript from the King George the Third (: British Royal Collection (Lucerne: University Press, 1937). Quaternio Editions, 2016). North Lee, Brian, British Royal Bookplates Waley, Muhammad Isa, ‘Islamic and Ex-Libris of Related Manuscripts in the Royal Collection: (: Scolar Press, 1992). A Concise Catalogue’, Manuscripts of Patterson, Stephen, Royal Insignia: the Middle East, no. vi (1992), British and Foreign Orders of Chivalry pp. 5–40. from the Royal Collection (London: Merrill Holberton, 1996). 48 the royal library & the royal archives: A Guide to Collections

William Shakespeare, The Second Folio, 1632. Charles I’s personal copy, with annotations made by the king while imprisoned at (rcin 1080415)

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